Washington censures Istanbul’s deadly bombing

A deadly bomb blast ripped through a famous shopping street in central Istanbul on March 19, 2016. (AFP)

The United States has strongly denounced Saturday’s deadly bombing in the western Turkish city of Istanbul.

Washington condemned the "vicious terrorist attack" in central Istanbul, vowing to stand by Turkey.

"The United States stands in solidarity with our NATO ally Turkey in combating the common threat of terrorism," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

"This vicious attack is the latest in a series of indefensible violence targeting innocent people throughout Turkey -- Turkish citizens and international visitors alike," he added.

At least five people were killed and 36 others wounded after a massive bomb explosion rocked a crowded shopping district in Istanbul earlier on Saturday.

The blast took place when a bomber detonated his explosives on Istiklal street in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district, killing the attacker and four more people.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Turkey has been the scene of surging violence, including several bomb attacks, over the past months.

The attack comes nearly a week after 37 people were killed in a bomb explosion in the capital city, Ankara, which was later claimed by a Kurdish militant group introduced by authorities as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Last month, 28 people were killed and some 60 others wounded in a large car bomb targeting a military vehicle in the heart of Ankara.

The Turkish government has been among the main supporters of the militant groups operating in Syria. The Turkish military has also been conducting operations against the positions of the PKK in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.


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